Unpredicted Entrepreneur

About Unpredicted Entrepreneur

Your go-to resource for education and insights on franchising and entrepreneurship. Join us as we share valuable advice and interview franchisees, franchisors, investors, and funding partners to uncover insider knowledge that can help YOU thrive as a franchisee. Whether you're exploring business ownership or looking to grow your franchise portfolio, you'll gain actionable tips and expert perspectives. We're honored to be chosen as one of the Top 20 Franchise podcasts. https://podcast.feedspot.com/franchise_podcasts/

Publisher

RNCN

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

21 Jul 2021

Latest episode

26 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

121 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   26 Aug 2026

   It's Never Too Late to Build the Life You Want

   Welcome to Episode 122 of Unpredicted Entrepreneur! Hosts Sara Waskow and Roxanne Rapske sit down with Mark Cunningham, a veteran business owner who left behind a 38-year insurance career to reinvent himself through franchising and entrepreneurship. Mark shares his inspiring journey, his experience with owning the top laundromat in Dallas/Fort Worth, and building a new legacy with Black Optix Tint. In this episode, you'll hear about: - Transitioning from a long-standing corporate career to entrepreneurship - Key lessons learned from owning a laundromat franchise - How to build a family legacy in business - Importance of company culture and leadership support - Tips for aspiring franchise owners and building confidence Contact Information and Free Resources: Connect with our hosts: Sara Waskow -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarawaskow/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarawaskow/) Roxanne Rapske-  https://www.linkedin.com/in/roxannerapske/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/roxannerapske/) Would you like to learn more about our FREE Franchising Resources? Use this link to receive all of the information: https://linktr.ee/Frannetdfw (https://linktr.ee/Frannetdfw) Discover more about our franchise consulting at https://www.frannet.com/ (https://www.frannet.com/) Chapters for this episode: 00:00:00 Introduction: Redefining Success 00:00:32 Mark Cunningham’s New Chapter 00:01:14 Mark’s Background and Early Career 00:05:15 Transition to Entrepreneurship 00:06:21 Choosing and Building the Laundromat Franchise 00:08:26 Laundromat Success and Exit 00:10:03 Motivation for a New Venture at 71 00:12:04 Building a Family Legacy 00:13:24 Introduction to Black Optix Tint 00:15:29 Why Black Optix Tint? Culture and Opportunity 00:17:25 Passion, Purpose, and Impact 00:18:57 Family and Resilience in Business 00:19:54 Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Franchisees 00:22:29 How to Connect With Mark & Black Optix Tint 00:23:31 Closing Remarks #entrepreneurship #franchising #careertransition #businessownership #franchisepodcast

2. 

   8 Jul 2026

   How This Couple Left Corporate America to Build a Life They Love

   Welcome to episode 121 of Unpredicted Entrepreneur. In this episode, you’ll learn how leaving corporate franchise leadership can lead to a successful entrepreneurial journey. Discover the realities of building your own business from the ground up. Craig and Kristen Jooste share the raw details behind their decision to quit their corporate roles. This conversation explores the actual risks, the long hours required, and the trade-offs they made to gain control over their professional lives. If you’re considering starting a business or currently feel stuck in a corporate environment, their story offers a realistic look at the transition. We discuss the specific challenges of business ownership and how the initial struggle paved the way for more autonomy. By examining their entrepreneurial journey, you will gain perspective on whether the path of an entrepreneurial life aligns with your own goals. Understanding the sacrifice needed to leave corporate franchise leadership is essential for anyone weighing a similar career pivot. Subscribe for weekly business strategy breakdowns and share in the comments: What is the biggest challenge holding you back from starting your own venture? Contact Information and Free Resources: Connect with our guests: Craig Jooste - https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigjooste/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigjooste/) Kristen Jooste - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-jooste-1a6bb939/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-jooste-1a6bb939/) Follow: Genie Senior Services -  https://www.linkedin.com/company/genie-senior-services-north-america/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/genie-senior-services-north-america/) Connect with our hosts: Sara Waskow -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarawaskow/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarawaskow/) Roxanne Rapske-  https://www.linkedin.com/in/roxannerapske/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/roxannerapske/) Would you like to learn more about our FREE Franchising Resources? Use this link to receive all of the information: https://linktr.ee/Frannetdfw (https://linktr.ee/Frannetdfw) Discover more about our franchise consulting at https://www.frannet.com/ (https://www.frannet.com/) Chapters for this episode: 00:00:00 Introduction: Building a Life, Not Just a Business 00:01:02 Meet the Guests: Craig and Kristen Joost 00:01:56 Early Careers and Jumping into Entrepreneurship 00:03:19 Building and Franchising the Handyman Business 00:05:08 What is Genie Senior Services? 00:06:48 Lessons Learned from Franchise and Ownership 00:10:23 Expanding from Canada to the U.S. 00:13:07 Who Makes the Ideal Genie Franchisee? 00:16:19 Multi-Territory and Scaling Opportunities 00:19:35 Advice for Prospective Franchisees 00:23:24 Culture, Fit, and Contact Information 00:24:30 Closing Remarks and Thanks #entrepreneurship #businesspodcast #businessownership #franchiseconsulting #unpredictedentrepreneur

3. 

   1 Jul 2026

   The Real Cost of a Bad Lease

   Welcome to Episode 120 of Unpredicted Entrepreneur. In this episode, you’ll hear how our special guest, Joseph Gozlan, approached commercial real estate after leaving a career in software engineering. See the critical factors for business success. Joseph shares his experience moving from software engineering into the world of commercial real estate. If you’re considering a career change or looking to build a business outside of corporate America, this conversation highlights the practical realities of the transition. We focus on the foundational decisions that determine the long-term viability of new businesses. This session breaks down why location and financial planning are the most significant variables in commercial real estate. By analyzing these core elements, you’ll gain a clearer perspective on how to structure your own business success. We discuss the mindset shift required when moving away from a traditional role and how to evaluate risks effectively. Subscribe for weekly career and investment breakdowns, and comment on what industry you are considering moving into next. Contact Information and Free Resources: Connect with Joseph Gozlan - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gozlan/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/gozlan/) Eureka Business Group https://www.linkedin.com/company/ebgtx/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ebgtx/) Connect with Sara Waskow -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarawaskow/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarawaskow/) Connect with Roxanne Rapske-  https://www.linkedin.com/in/roxannerapske/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/roxannerapske/) Would you like to learn more about our FREE Franchising Resources? Use this link to receive all of the information: https://linktr.ee/Frannetdfw (https://linktr.ee/Frannetdfw) Discover more about our franchise consulting at https://www.frannet.com/ (https://www.frannet.com/) Chapters for this episode: 00:00:00 Introduction: The Importance of Location and Leases 00:00:13 Guest Introduction: Joseph Gosselin’s Background 00:01:06 Episode Welcome and Guest’s Full Title 00:02:16 Joseph Gosselin’s Journey: From Software Engineer to Real Estate 00:04:04 Transitioning to Commercial Real Estate 00:05:44 How a Commercial Broker Serves Business Owners 00:08:00 Handling Unrepresented Tenants 00:10:36 Lease vs. Buy: Which Path is Best? 00:13:53 Top Lease Mistakes and What to Watch Out For 00:17:10 Educating Yourself & Joseph’s Book 00:18:54 How to Contact Joseph Gosselin 00:19:21 Final Words of Wisdom and Episode Close #entrepreneurship #businesspodcast #businessownership #franchiseconsulting #unpredictedentrepreneur

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 23 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

32

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

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Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.